The non profit Allsongslist reg. began in 1984 and has more than one thousand songs, all the Elton John charts, all the set lists of the concerts since 1970, all the album tracks, etc. This is not an Official Elton John site and is intended for personal use and entertainment only, and share time with eltonites. In 2017 due to Elton's 70th BDay, the 50 years of partnership between Elton and Bernie and the 33 years of AllSongsList all will be revealed

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30 Nov 2007

"The Fox" was the first album for his new lebel: Geffen Records. Early on, the album consisted of ten tracks left over the 21 At 33 sessions. Geffen rejected six songs of those and Elton return and recorded new songs in studio. Ironically, these songs were turning up "B" side singles of the album. But the album lacked a big hit and got little airplay, thought reviews of industry trade publications proclaimed the album as one of the best since the mid 70s.

"Just Like Belgium" for example, failed to reach the music singles charts. Initially written for Rod Stewart, who turned it down claiming music and lyrics were incompatible. The song related alcohol-soaked vagabonds trying to recapture a trace of glamour of his younger years in Belgium.

Just Like Belgium's lyrics:Music by Elton JohnLyrics by Bernie Taupin

"Remember Belgium and the Brussels MuseumWhere we piled on the front steps like stray cavaliersOur code of living meant little to othersThe few francs we saved bought some cheap souvenirs

But the red lights where the catfights make it just like BelgiumSee us face down on the floor of another cheap barroomStreetwalkers sweet talk you out of your spare changeAnd your sweet madame makes it seem just like Belgium

Just like a hustler when they look attractiveIt's nothing more than a slap on the backThe price tag of being just a little bit differentThe first rule to learn is to keep your own distance"

29 Nov 2007

The song was born in summer 1980. While driving through St. Tropez, Elton heard heard Janic Prevost version of J'Veux D'La Tendress ("I Want Tenderness") on the car radio. He was so overcome that he pulled to the side of the road to listen. "It just send shivers up and down me spine" recalled Elton. "even though it was sung in french". He asked Gary Osborne, then lyricist, to write an English version and he did, writin' about Elton's unloving relationship with his father.

Elton recorded the french version for "The Fox" album release in France, with Jean Paul Dreau lyrics, not Gary Osborne lyrics, and he described the searchfor happiness in life.

Nobody Wins Written by Jean-Paul Dreau and Gary Osborne

"They must have loved each other onceBut that was many years agoAnd by the time I came alongThings were already going wrongI felt the pain in their pretenceThe side they tried hard not to showBut through the simple eyes of youthIt wasn't hard to see the truth

And in the end nobody winsWhen love begins to fall apartAnd it's the innocent who payWhen broken dreams get in the wayThe game begins, the game nobody wins

They must have loved each other onceBefore the magic slipped awayAnd as their life became a lieWhat love remained began to dieI used to hide beneath the sheetsI prayed that time would find a wayBut with the passing of the yearsI watched as laughter turned to tears

We used to love each other onceWith all the passion we possessedBut people change as time goes bySome feelings grow while others dieBut if we learn from what we seeAnd face the truth while we still canThen though the passion may be goneSome kind of love can still live on"

21 Nov 2007

I've always admired Jim Turano who, in permission of greats Tom Stanton and Liz Rosenthal, is one of the best reviewers of Elton John albums. His chats with Stanton in "East End Lights" magazine were one of the most incredible things you could ever read.

Jim is really a true Elton John fan. His knowledge of Elton's life and music is unending. Along with Mary Anne Casatta is the author of "Elton John Scrapbook", a must have book for eltonites. Unlike many of the books about Elton John this, as the name implies, is in the format of a scrapbook, in other words, a montage of Elton John's life and career:

If I am not wrong, you could hear Jim every weekday mornings from 8a to 11a on 105.9 WCKG - Chicago Radio Station.

The idea about the autobiographical album came after Bernie wrote a poem called "Dogs In The Kitchen". Though the lyrics were included in the scrapbook of the album, it don't seems that any music was set. Bernie's bitterly cynical portrayal of corporate greed in the entertainment industry. It was not, it seems referring to Dick James but to a familiar world, nevertheless.

Both preplanned the running order of the album lyrically before Elton wrote the music to. "Bernie had the idea of writing about how we met" explained Elton at that time. "I had the feeling that it won't be commercial but I never know what is and what isn't". And like a book, the album was played chapter by chapter, song by song, in order to complete their story.

Dogs In The Kichen LyricsLyrics: Bernie Taupin

"All our innocence gave way to lustAs the peacock spreads its fan,And they taught us how to crack the whipWhile the businessmen got tanned.

In the months that passed by the agents criedAnd the flunkeys all got paid,While the fortune seekers pale limp wristsShowered us with bright bouquets.

Like soldiers on the road to battlePoor boys fight to stay alive,Take a roller coaster or the wheel of fortuneJust be sure that you can land it on the other side.

Uncage us where restless, snarled the dogs in the kitchen.Howling in the heatwave, riding all the bitchin' ladies.Who got the first bite on the greasy bone, take my advice kidTear off the white meat, leave them the fat back at home.

Empty eyed souls with expense accountsTake a luncheon eating humble pie.While the vultures belch in their swivel chairsAnd the vampires all wear ties.

From the lips of a sweet young starletAmber eyes and sex appeal,Or a swan song sung by some finger snapping kidIn a cumberbund and cuban heels.

Though the team survived the glass house crackedAnd the martyrs all got stonedBut a friend outside slipped a file inWhile the jailer slpet at home".

20 Nov 2007

The first song wrote consciously as a single, is a tribute to Elton's friend Billy Jean King and her tennis team, the Philadelphia Freedoms. Elton had told her he would have Bernie write lyrics for her, capting the idea of winning despite all odds, and she thought "No way!". Elton, who met Billy Jean and Jimmy Connors in 1973, had been allowed to play against her on court and the song should be in return for that.

But he did it and asked to Bernie. "I said to Bernie: could you write a song called Philadelphia Freedom for me? Thank you, Elton". "I can't write a song about tennis" protested Bernie. And he did it. "It's not exactly the easiest title to deal with" added Bernie. Bernie claims that lyrics mean nothing.

Billy Jean explained "Elton was so nervous when he play me the song, but I loved it... it was so thoughtful, it meant a lot".

The friendship reminds over the years. "I beat Billy Jean at tennis once" Elton recalled. "I was standing there in a kind of daze when she came up and said: Shall we play for real now?. And I thought: oh, shut up!"

Philadelphia Freedom's lyrics:

Music by Elton JohnLyrics by Bernie Taupin

"I used to be a rolling stoneYou know if a cause was rightI'd leave to find the answer on the roadI used to be a heart beating for someoneBut the times have changedThe less I say the more my work gets done

`Cause I live and breathe this Philadelphia freedomFrom the day that I was born I've waved the flagPhiladelphia freedom took me knee-high to a manYeah gave me peace of my mind daddy never had

Oh Philadelphia freedom shine on me, I love youShine a light through the eyes of the ones left behindShine a light shine the lightShine a light won't you shine the lightPhiladelphia freedom I love you, yes I do

If you choose to you can live your life aloneSome people choose the citySome others choose the good old family homeI like living easy without family tiesTill the whippoorwill of freedom zapped meRight between the eyes"

19 Nov 2007

Elton is singing about himself. Linda Woodrow was his bride-to-be. The couple met on Christmas Eve 1967 at a cabaret club in Sheffield when Elton was in Long John Baldry's backing band. They found a basement in Islington, North London, where lyricist Bernie Taupin became their flatmate.

In Two Rooms tribute project, Elton explained: “I was going to get married once when I was younger, and I went out and got drunk with Long John Baldry and Bernie and John said I shouldn't get married. I knew he was right but I didn't know how to get out of it so, I just got drunk and went home and said I'm not getting married”.

Asked for this song, Bernie said: “One day I was coming out of my room and coming out of my room and walking down the hall I smelt gas. I thought oh, great, somebody's left the oven on in the kitchen. I walk in the kitchen and there's Elton lying on the floor with the gas oven open. My inmediate thing should have been oh, my God, he's tried to kill himself. But I started laughing because he'd got the gas oven open, he was lying on a pillow and he'd opened all the windows”.

Bernie has stated that “Someone saved my life tonight” was about the suicide attempt and the marriage that never was. While John Baldry is the “sugar bear” of the song, Linda was the “princess perched in her electric chair” and Elton's stepfather “Derf” and mother who “They're coming in the morning with a truck to take me home” (he and Bernie).

In the line, "Paying your H.P. demands forever," the H.P. stands for "hire-purchase" payments, i.e., buying things on an installment plan. Elton is referring to the payments he would have to make if he were to have married a woman and spent his life disguising his identity as a gay man.

16 Nov 2007

Elton John does not have any children, but does have ten godchildren. Besides Sean Ono Lennon, these include Elizabeth Hurley's son Damian Charles, David and Victoria Beckham's son Brooklyn, and the daughter of Seymour Stein.

On the following interview: Paul Flynn meets Elton John and David Furnish, from London Times, Elton was asked about children: "Do you want kids? Elton: No. I’ll take the perks of being gay where I can get them and that’s one of them for me: gay men are the only group of people who aren’t looked down upon if they don’t have kids".

But for David Furnish point of view, this is never likely to happen because Elton's always too busy. He says, "I wanted children. We talked extensively about adopting, but it came down to Elton saying, 'I'm going to continue to do what I do and it will be very difficult to raise a child with you if I'm not going to be there'." Furnish, 45, fears he will always be sad about the decision. He adds, "It will be my one regret when I leave this planet; that I never had children of my own, because I really love children."

But it was Bernie who gave the meaning of the song, with his desire to have children "your eyes open up" declared. "I love getting up and taking kids to school. It's a great feeling". The lyrics gave voice to his desire:

Music by Elton JohnLyrics by Bernie Taupin

"Hey you, you're a child in my headYou haven't walked yetYour first words have yet to be saidBut I swear you'll be blessed

I know you're still just a dreamyour eyes might be greenOr the bluest that I've ever seenAnyway you'll be blessed

And you, you'll be blessedYou'll have the bestI promise you thatI'll pick a star from the skyPull your name from a hatI promise you that, promise you that, promise you thatYou'll be blessed

I need you before I'm too oldTo have and to holdTo walk with you and watch you growAnd know that you're blessed"

14 Nov 2007

It's a song about love but it's not a pure love song. "To me this song says strongly and loudly "I believe in love"" explained Elton about the song. "I do believe in something. I believe in faith, I believe in the human spirit and in its generosity". In the other way, he think that "Religion can be so divisive. It can be so depressing to look at situations, like the religious situations all over the world". In contrast, "I believe in all I can as a human being to be positive and in being as loving and generous as I can". Pure philosophy.

The lyrics' provided too cornerstone "Cancer sleeps curled up in my father" as Bernie's father was dying at that time. Also love transcends barriers and institutions "everything crumbles sonner or later but love".

Elton John's main vocal influence remains John Lennon, especially on this album's first single, "Believe," the lyrics to which also echo the tone of several of Lennon's solo ballads.

And the Marcus Nispel's video is probably one of the best of Elton's career. The director intention was to represent a city that was in the sky. "I wanted it to be in black and white" said Elton "like the images I love to see in black and white photography".

Believe's lyrics:

Music by Elton JohnLyrics by Bernie Taupin

"I believe in love, it's all we gotLove has no boundaries, costs nothing to touchWar makes money, cancer sleepsCurled up in my father and that means something to meChurches and dictators, politics and papersEverything crumbles sooner or laterBut love, I believe in love

I believe in love, it's all we gotLove has no boundaries, no borders to crossLove is simple, hate breedsThose who think difference is the child of diseaseFather and son make love and gunsFamilies together kill someoneWithout love, I believe in love

Without love I wouldn't believeIn anything that lives and breathesWithout love I'd have no angerI wouldn't believe in the right to stand hereWithout love I wouldn't believeI couldn't believe in youAnd I wouldn't believe in meWithout love

6 Nov 2007

"Tiny Dancer" was Bernie's love song to Maxine, "The ballerina", his wife. They married in 1971 and Elton was the best man.

But the song don't tell only his love for Maxine but her work with the band being "the seamstress",and enjoyed them like any other audience member "she sings the songs, the word she knows, the tune she hums".

For Elton, "Tiny dancer" became his first signifricant use of the falsetto voice, very popular in him.

Though being a minor hit, partly because of its six minute running time, the concert has become a concert standard.

The song became very popular in 2000, because Cameron Crowe added a beatiful scene with the song in his succesful "Almost Famous" film.

"Blue jean baby, L.A. lady, seamstress for the bandPretty eyed, pirate smile, you'll marry a music manBallerina, you must have seen her dancing in the sandAnd now she's in me, always with me, tiny dancer in my hand

Jesus freaks out in the streetHanding tickets out for GodTurning back she just laughsThe boulevard is not that bad

Piano man he makes his standIn the auditoriumLooking on she sings the songsThe words she knows, the tune she hums

But oh how it feels so realLying here with no one nearOnly you and you can't hear meWhen I say softly, slowly

Hold me closer tiny dancerCount the headlights on the highwayLay me down in sheets of linenyou had a busy day today

Blue jean baby, L.A. lady, seamstress for the bandPretty eyed, pirate smile, you'll marry a music manBallerina, you must have seen her dancing in the sandAnd now she's in me, always with me, tiny dancer in my hand"

“I can't listen to my vocals on that entire album. I hated it” explained Elton over the years. “Honestly, no bullshit, no Marc Bolan hype, it's my biggest catalogue seller... yet I can't listen to it. I can't listen to either “Levon” or “Tiny dancer” because my vocals are so appalling but yet again that album was made under nightmare conditions”. But not only for the vocals, the time they were doing this album was not the best they could expect, there were so many problems.

The atmosphere was tense. The usual stockpile of songs had been exhausted, an intensive touring schedule had not allowed enough time to mantein their previous output of three songs a week: “That album was wrenched out of us because we had to produce an album for our record company, and we'd only had the title track done as far as songs were concerned. Usually when we do an album we've got a stockpile of songs we can choose from. But because we were touring so much we didn't have a stockpile”, commented Elton.

Elton himself stormed out after a furious row with publisher Dick James over some re-recording. Bernie could write about an America he had visited extensively while accompanying Elton on tour. “There were some unbelievable things going wrong through the making of the album... (Arranger) Paul Buckmaster turning up for a session with no arrangements and 60 string players sitting there wondering what the hell was happening. And with all that going on... having just ten days to record the entire album”.

Lyrically, most of the songs were written in the first person, obliging Elton to assume a bewildering array of voices and characters.

“”Madman” is the first album that's a gold before release”. But the album lacked natural singles and none were released in Britain. And It was slated by the critics. It reached number 8 in the US charts but the place where Elton most wanted to prove and justify himself was Britain, and the album showed it no higher than 41. The old problem of penetrating the singles marked seemed as insoluble as ever. “Levon” neither “Tiny dancer” made it into the Top 20.

Dissapointed, Elton experienced another of those momentary compulsions to do utterly the wrong thing: “I thought of quitting. I really thought I'd gone as far as I was going to”.

Most significant about the recording of his next studio album “Honky Chateau” though, was Elton's use of his band on all the songs. One wonder how he managed his victory after fighting, with limited success, to get drummer Nigel Olsson and bassist Dee Murray on previous albums. The signing of guitarrist Davey Johnstone could have been a factor. But it is telling that Elton was finally able to use his band, and achieve a more basic sound, more pop and less orchestral arrangements.

5 Nov 2007

According to Gus Dudgeon, who produced Madman Across the Water and wrote an essay containing this information to accompany the remastered version, the name "Levon" was inspired by Levon Helm, drummer, lead singer, and founder of The Band, a group from the 60s and 70s. The Band was apparently Elton John's and Bernie Taupin's favorite group in those days. (Taupin is the guy who writes or co-writes a lot of Elton John's songs and who wrote the lyrics for "Levon.")

Tracing the name "Alvin Tostig" is fairly straightforward, but with a bit of a twist. Taupin has said the name was fictitious. There was a historical "Tostig," who was the Earl of Wessex back in the 1040s, perhaps Taupin pulled the name out of history without realizing it.

Also, some have speculated that Levon contains veiled references to a popular book of the time, "Future Shock" by Alvin Toffler, and that "Alvin Tostig" is a messed-up anagram of "Toffler."

Who knows... Taupin was often so cryptic in his writing that even he didn't know what he meant!

"Levon" Lyrics

"Levon bears his war wound like a crownHe calls his child Jesus'Cause he likes the nameAnd he sends him to the finest school in town.

Levon, Levon likes his moneyHe makes a lot they saySpends his days countin'In a garage by the motorway.

He was born a pauper to a pawn on a Christmas DayWhen the New York Times said God is deadAnd the war's begunOh Alvin Tostig has a son todayAnd he shall be LevonAnd he shall be a good manAnd he shall be LevonIn tradition with the family planAnd he shall be LevonAnd he shall be a good manHe shall be Levon.

Levon sells cartoon balloons in townHis family business thrivesJesus, blows up balloons all daySits on the porch swing watching them flyAnd Jesus, he wants to go to VenusLeave Levon far behindTake a balloon and go sailingWhile Levon, Levon slowly dies.

He was born a pauper to a pawn on a Christmas DayWhen the New York Times said God is deadAnd the war's begunOh Alvin Tostig has a son todayAnd he shall be LevonAnd he shall be a good manAnd he shall be LevonIn tradition with the family plan, wooAnd he shall be LevonAnd he shall be a good manHe shall be Levon.

And he shall be LevonAnd he shall be a good manAnd he shall be LevonIn tradition with the family plan, wooAnd he shall be LevonAnd he shall be a good manHe shall be Levon".

(c) Copyright 1971 by Dick James Music Limited, 71-75 New Oxford Street, London,

2 Nov 2007

The title of the song, always the starting point for Bernie, came to his mind after hearing an Elton tune on the piano: "Elton was tinkling on the piano and I just listened for a while" explained then the lyricist. "Finally I thought of the title line and went home and completed the song".

The song expressed he's feelings when he was through an emotional upheaval coping with his marriage separation and the alcoholism.

The up-tempo contemporary jazz number had the Bernie's most inspired lyrics from the whole album, containing some of his most enigmatic references to marital discord. He likens his separation from his wife Maxine, the result of his rock's unsettled life, to the separation between "shoreline widows" and "missing whalers", and the "crazy water" that comes between two who should have been together.

The Californian girl who Bernie met in 1970 and married one year later, divorced in 1975 and begun a relationship with Kenny Passarelli, then Elton's bass player.

Bernie described in "Between seventeen and twenty" the sadness of an ending marriage. The title refers at the age Bernie and Maxine had when they married. And Kenny was the friend who Bernie "knew so well" (as he said in the lyrics). Instead of the trio love affair, Bernie and Kenny remainded good friends, after all.